Reversing-gear mechanism



' 1,628 33. May 10, 1927. DANIEL ,2

REVERSING GEAR MECHANISM Filed March 1 .1926

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Patented May 10, 1927.

ALEXANDER DANIEL, 011' CLEVELAND, OHIO.

REVERSING-GEAR MECHANISM.

Application filed March 16, 1926, Serial No. 95,028.

The present invention relates to an automatic gear reversing device which is more particularly adapted for use in the construction of cylinder washing machines or analogous devices in which a cylinder or other member is alternately driven a predetermined number of revolutions in opposite directions.

Among the objects ofthe inventionareto provide a reversing gear of this character which issimple and inexpensive in itsconstruction, which will operate in an eifective manner to automatically reverse the direction of rotation of the drum or shaft after it has been driven a predetermined number of revolutions in either direction.

While one particular embodiment of-the invention is shown and described in this application for illustrative purposes, .it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

F or a full understanding ofthe invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevationof the reversing gear device, the forward half section of the casing within which the gear is housed being removed to show the arrangement of the gear members.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the gear members with the casing removed, the clutch releasing members being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View on the line of Figure l with thecasing removed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the drive shaft which may be connected with a suitable source of power so as to be rotatedcontinuously in,

one direction whenthe device is in operation. The drive shaft is shown as journaled in suitable bearings 2 which are arranged in opposite sides of a suitable gear housing Bevel pinions 4t are loosely mounted upon the drive shaft 1 adjacent the two bearings 2 and mesh with-opposite sides of a bevel gear 5 which isarranged within the housing 3. This gear wheel 5 is formed with a stub shaft 6 which is suitablyjoun studon th end of the drum on cylinder of i the washing machine.

Keyed ,uponthe drive shaft 1 atan' intermediate position between the two bevel pinions 4 is a worm 8 which meshes with .a Wormgear=9 arranged below thesame. A cam element 10 arranged on the axis of the worm gear 9 is received in an. elongated Opening 11 in an upright fclutc-h shifting lever 12 which has the lower end thereofpivotally mounted at 13 on some fixed support such as the gear housing. The upper and swinging end of the clutch shifting lever is formed with lateral arms 1% which project in opposite directions and terminate in upwardly projecting fingers 15. The up: per ends of the fingers 15 are bent laterally at 15 and engage clutch shifting slides 16.

The :two slides 16 are mounted upon a guide bar 17 which extends transversely across the housing 3 in a parallel relation to the drive shaft 1. The slides 16 have .a substantially .U-shaped construction, the two spaced arms thereof being formed with openings which loosely receive the guide bar 17, while the horizontal portions of the slides are parallel to the guide bar, the

laterallybent ends 15 of the fingers 15 of o the clutch shifting lever projecting into the space between said horizontal portions of the slides and the guide bar.

'Each of the slides 16 is formed Witha downwardly extending fork 18 which engages a correspondingclutch member 19 on the drive shaft. These clutch members have the usual feather and spline connection with the drive shaftso that they are slidable thereon and rotatable therewith. The clutch membersare slidable on the shaft in and out of engagement with the cooperating clutch elements 20 on the corresponding pinions 4. A coil spring 21 which surrounds the guide bar 17 is interposed between the two clutch shifting slides 16 and the forked upper end of the clutch shifting lever 12 spans .the distance between the slides so that the laterally projecting members 15" at the extremities thereof are .normally in substantial engagement with the inner ends of the respective clutch shifting slides 16.

shifting lever The slides 16 are spaced the proper distance apart, so that as they are moved back and forth on the drive shaft 1 by the clutch 12 they are alternately brought into and out of operative position. The ratio between the worm 8 and the worm gear 9 is such that the worm gear has one complete revolution imparted thereto each time the drive shaft completes a predetermined number of revolutions, the ratio being adapted to be changed according to the requirements of the particular mechanism with which the device is to be used. As the worm gear 9 turns the cam member 10 thereon cooperates with the walls of the opening 11 in the clutch shifting lever 12 to swing the same back and forth. These movements of the lever are imparted to the clutch shift ing slides 16 so that the slides are moved back and forth on the drive shaft and alternately brought into operative engagement with the corresponding bevel pinions 4, thereby driving the main gear wheel 5 alternately in opposite directions. Immediately after one of the clutch members 19 is disengaged from the bevel pinion on one side of the gear wheel 5 the other clutch member is brought into engagement with the bevel pinion on the opposite side of the gear wheel It will be observed, however, that the spring 21 is always interposed between the shifting lever 12 and the clutch member which being moved into operative position. The forked end of the shifting lever slidably engages the two slides 16 at the inner ends thereof so that when the lever is moved in a direction to slide a clutch member into inoperative position it abuts against the inner end of the slide and has a direct pulling action thereon. At this time the shifting lever merely has a sliding engagement with the slide 16 of the clutch member which is being moved into operative position.

There is thus no positive connection between the shifting lever 12 and the slide 16 of the clutch member which is being moved into operative position, and the said slide and clutch member are advanced by the spring 21 as the other slide is positively moved by the lever. The clutch member which is being moved into operative position is thus yieldably advanced so that if the clutch faces of the clutch member and bevel pinion are not in proper registry when the parts first engage, the continued movement of the shifting lever 12 will merely result in placing the spring 21 under tension so that the clutch member ill spring into operative position as soon as the clutch faces are brought into registry with each other. As previously stated, the bevel pinions 4 are loose on the drive shaft 1, although they are alternately locked with the drive shaft when they are engaged by the respective clutch members 19. The main gear wheel 5 is thus automatically reversed after it has been driven a predetermined number of revolutions in either direction. This is the action which is desired in cylinder washing machines, and when the device is used in connection with such a machine the gear wheel 5 can be directly connected to the clothes receiving drum or cylinder.

It is also contemplated to provide means for rendering the device inoperative with the drive shaft 1 still turning. For this purpose a disabling lever 22 is provided, the lower end of the lever being provided with an opening which slidably receives the guide bar 1? at a point adjacent the outer end of one of the clutch shifting slides 16. The lever is pivotally connected at 23 to the laterally projecting upper end 24 of an arm 24 having an opening therein which slidably receives the guide bar 17 at a point adjacent the outer end of the other clutch shifting slide. The free end of the disabling lever 22 projects through a slot 25 in the gear housing 3 and a washer member 26 which is fitted loosely on the lever is held in a yieldable engagement with the inner wall of the gear housing 3 by a spring 27 which is interposed between the washer member and a suitable shoulder on the lever which is provided by the pivotal connection between the lever and the arm 2 1. The interior wall of the housing is provided at points adjacent the middle portion of the slot 25 with rounded projections 28. WVhen the lever 22 is grasped and forcibly moved from one end of the slot 25 to the opposite end thereof, the washer member 26 passes over the projections 28, being moved downwardly on the lever against the action of the spring 27. However, when the lever is at either limit of its movement the washer member 26 is seated against the top of the casing in engagement with one side of the rounded projections 28 so that the lever is held against accidental movement, although it can be forcibly moved in either direction. When the lever at one limit of its movement, as shown by full lines on Figure 1, the lower end of the lever and arm 24 are separated so that they do not interfere in 1 any manner with the operation of the clutch n'iei'nber as previously described. However, when the disabling lever is swung to the other limit of its movement into the position shown by dotted lines on Figure the 1 lower end of the lever and the arm 24 are moved toward each other so that they enthe outer ends of the clutch shifting slides 16 and move the same toward ach other a sui'licient amount to prevent the clutch members 19 from engaging the clutch faces of the bevel pinions 4. The clutch shifting lever 12 can then be swung back and forth withoutmoving either of the clutch members into operative position.

The slides will be alternately moved toward each other with the result that the spring 21 will be compressed, although the slides will be prevented by the disabling mechanism from being moved outwardly a sufficientamount to bring either of the clutch member into operative position. The device is thus completely under the controlof the operator and can be rendered'operative or inoperative at will. When the device is perative the part to which the maiirgear wheel may be connected will be alternately rotated a predetermined number of turns or revolutions in opposite directions.

The worm wheel 9 may be supported in any suitable manner, and is shown as journaled on a bracket which projects from the bottom of the housing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

"1.. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidable on the shaft adjacent the respective pinions, slidably mounted clutch shifting members which are operatively connected with the respective clutch members, means for alternately sliding the clutch shifting members to movethe corresponding clutch members mto inoperative position, y ielding means interposed between the clutch shifting members whereby when one of the clutch shifting members is moved to retract the corresponding clutch member the other clutch shifting member is moved under the action of the yielding means to shift the other clutch member into operative position, and means for moving the clutch shifting members toward each other to disable the mechanism.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinons loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, clutch members slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent the pinions, shifting slides for the clutchmembers, a shifting lever for alternately engaging the shifting slides to move the corresponding clutch members into-inoperative position, and yielding means between the shifting slides whereby when one of the clutch members is moved into inoperative position the other clutch member is moved into operative position under the action of the yielding means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidable on the shaft adjacent the respective pinions, a guide bar, clutch shifting members sliding the respectivev clutches, a shifting lever adapted to alternately engage the clutch shifting members to move-the correspond ing clutch members into inoperative position, and a spring interposed between the clutch shifting members whereby whe-n'one of the clutch shifting member-sis moved to retract the corresponding clutch member the other clutch shifting member is moved under the action of the spring to yieldably shift the other clutch member into operative position. i

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch; members slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent to the respective pinions, a guide bar, shifting slides mounted on the guide bar and engaging the respective clutch members, a shifting lever having a forked end receiving por-- tions of the shifting slides between the arms thereof, means for oscillating the shifting lever to alternately move the "slides and retract the corresponding clutch members, and a spring interposed between-the slides whereby when one of the clutch members is retracted into inoperative position the other clutch member is yielda-bly forced into operative position under the action of the spring.

In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent to the respective pinions, a worm keyed on the shaft at an intermediate point between the pinions, a worm gear meshing with the worm. a guide bar, shifting slides mounted on the guide bar :and engaging the respective clutch members, a shifting lever having a forked end which receives portions of the shifting slides between the armsthereof whereby the slides are alternately moved by the shifting lever as it is oscillated, yielding means interposed between the slides, and cam means actuated by the worm gear for oscillating the shifting lever.

6. In adevice of the character described, the combination of a driving shaft, .a pair of pinions loose thereon. a drivengear engaging the opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent the respective pinions, a guide bar, U-shaped shifting slides mounted on the guide bar and formed with forks engaging the respective clutch members, yielding means interposed between the slides, a shifting lever having a forked end, the arms of the fork terminating in lateral fingers which project between the arms of the respective U-shaped slides and alternately engage the inner arms of the respective slides to move the slides inwardly and retract the corresponding clutch members, the before mentioned yielding means operating to move the other clutch member into operative position when one clutch member is moved into inoperative position. and means driven by the shaft for oscillating the shifting lever.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidable on. the shaft adjacent to the respective pinions, shifting slides engaging the respective clutch members, yielding means between the shifting slides, means for alternately moving the slides inwardly to bring the clutch members alternately into engagement with the corresponding pinions, and disabling means including members for preventing a sufiicient outward movement of the slides to bring the clutch members into operative position.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidable on the shaft adjacent to the respective pinions, a guide bar, shifting slides mounted on the guide bar and engaging the respective clutch members, means for moving the slides on the.

guide bar to alternately bring the clutch members into operative engagement with the respective pinions, and disabling means including members slidable 0111' the bar and movable into position thereon to prevent movement of the slides for bringing the clutch members into operative position.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a pair of clutch members slidable on the shaft adjacent the respective pinions, a guide bar, shifting slides mounted on the guide bar and engaging the respective clutch members. yielding means interposed between the shifting slides, means for alternately moving the slides to retract the corresponding clutch members, the before mentioned yielding means operating to move one of the slides to shift the corresponding clutch members into operative position when the other slide is actuated to shift the other clutch member into inoperaive position, and disabling means including members slidably mounted on the guide bar and adapted to be moved toward each other to prevent a sufficient outward movement of either slide to bring either of the clutch members into operative position.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, crutch members slidable on the shaft adjacent to the respective pinions, a guide bar, shifting slides mounted on the guide bar and engaging the respective clutch members, yielding means between the shifting slides, means for alternately moving the slides to retract the clutch members into inoperative position, the before mentioned yielding means operating to yieldably move one slide to shift the corresponding clutch member into operative position when the other slide is actuated to retract the other clutch member into inoperative position, a disabling lever slidably engaging the guide bar at one end thereof, and an arm slidably mounted upon the guide bar and pivotally connected to the disabling lever, the arm and disabling lever engaging the bar on opposite sides of the shifting slides so that by swinging the disabling lever in one direction the lever and arm are moved toward each other on the guide bar and caused to engage the shifting slides to prevent a suiiicient outward movement of either slide to bring either of the clutch members into operative position.

11. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a drive shaft, a pair of pinions loose thereon, a driven gear engaged at opposite sides thereof by the pinions, a guide bar, a pair of slides mounted thereon, yielding means between the slides, means for alternately moving each slide toward the other slide, means actuated by the movements of the slides for alternately locking the pinions with the drive shaft. and disabling means including members slidable on the guide bar and movable into engagement with the slides to limit the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER DANIEL. 

